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Dubh (Wywylwynd Dubhe)

Wywylwynd Dubhe

Birth weight: 250 g

Yellow argyll collar

Pasha's firstborn puppy. Dubh is a chunky, friendly puppy who likes a cuddle and is reasonably quiet and calm, and shows some reactivity to various stimuli. He is likely to be quite adaptable as to the sort of home and owner he will fit.

Dubhe day

Weight (g)

1

250

2

275

3

350

4

400

5

450

6

500

7

525

8

575

9

700

10

725

11

750

12

800

13

900

15

1000

17

1050

4 weeks

1,950

Volhard Temperament Test results

Test

Score

Description

1. Social attraction - the owner or caretaker of the puppies places it in the test area about four feet from the tester and then leaves the test area. The tester kneels down and coaxes the puppy to come to him or her by encouragingly and gently clapping hands and calling. The tester must coax the puppy in the opposite direction from where it entered the test area. Hint: Lean backward, sitting on your heels instead of leaning forward toward the puppy. Keep your hands close to your body encouraging the puppy to come to you instead of trying to reach for the puppy.

6

Didn't come at all

2. Following - the tester stands up and slowly walks away encouraging the puppy to follow. Hint: Make sure the puppy sees you walk away and get the puppy to focus on you by lightly clapping your hands and using verbal encouragement to get the puppy to follow you. Do not lean over the puppy.

5

Followed hesitantly, tail down

3. Restraint - the tester crouches down and gently rolls the puppy on its back and holds it on its back for 30 seconds. Hint: Hold the puppy down without applying too much pressure. The object is not to keep it on its back but to test its response to being placed in that position.

3

Settled, struggled, settled with some eye contact

4. Social Dominance - let the puppy stand up or sit and gently stroke it from the head to the back while you crouch beside it. See if it will lick your face, an indication of a forgiving nature. Continue stroking until you see a behavior you can score. Hint: When you crouch next to the puppy avoid leaning or hovering over the puppy. Have the puppy at your side with both of you facing in the same direction.

3

Cuddled up to tester and tried to lick face

5. Elevation Dominance - the tester cradles the puppy with both hands, supporting the puppy under its chest and gently lifts it two feet off the ground and holds it there for 30 seconds.

4

No struggle, relaxed

6. Retrieving - the tester crouches beside the puppy and attracts its attention with a crumpled up piece of paper. When the puppy shows some interest, the tester throws the paper no more than four feet in front of the puppy encouraging it to retrieve the paper.

6

Did not chase object

7. Touch Sensitivity - the tester locates the webbing of one the puppy’s front paws and presses it lightly between his index finger and thumb. The tester gradually increases pressure while counting to ten and stops when the puppy pulls away or shows signs of discomfort.

3

5-6 counts before response

8. Sound Sensitivity - the puppy is placed in the center of the testing area and an assistant stationed at the perimeter makes a sharp noise, such as banging a metal spoon on the bottom of a metal pan.

4

Listened, located the sound

9. Sight Sensitivity - the puppy is placed in the center of the testing area. The tester ties a string around a bath towel and jerks it across the floor, two feet away from the puppy.

-

Showed no interest (does not fit any of the options offered)

10. Stability - an umbrella is opened about five feet from the puppy and gently placed on the ground.